Cloud-based remote diagnostics for smart signage

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method and a remote diagnostic system that can be used for signage applications that includes a plurality of LED-based signs, each having one or more corresponding LED signage drivers, one or more controllers for real-time monitoring and controlling the LEDs in the LED-based signs, a commissioning application (“app”) for commissioning, the one or more controllers, an information system or cloud network for storing information received from and sending commands to, the one or more controllers related to the LED-based signs, and at least one sensor.

I. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to cloud-based remote diagnosticsystem. In particular, the present invention relates to a cloud-basedremote diagnostic system for smart signage applications.

II. BACKGROUND

In many current signage systems, a user may learn of a failure in a signonly after it has occurred. Additionally, the user would only learn ofthis when they are on-site, for example, to view the sign. Furthermore,in many current signage systems, the user may only be able to repair afailed sign after dismantling it to diagnose the failure and identifyany failed components. This process often necessitates a second trip tothe sign to make any repairs or replacements.

III. SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Given the aforementioned deficiencies, needed is a remote diagnosticsystem that can be used for signage applications.

The embodiments allow users to commission, monitor, control, andmaintain signage applications. The ability to diagnose and detect livedata allows these users to identify and diagnose faults early and reducerepair times, as well as system down-time. The embodiments also providethe flexibility to schedule preventative maintenance. At a componentlevel, the system provides users with an ability to identify faults downto the individual component level.

Under certain circumstances, an embodiment provides a plurality ofLED-based signs, each having one or more corresponding LED signagedrivers. Also included are one or more controllers for real-timemonitoring and controlling the LEDs in the LED-based signs, along with acommissioning application (“app”) for commissioning the one or morecontrollers. An information system or database, housed remotely or on acloud platform, is configured to store information received from the oneor more controllers related to the LED-based signs. At least one sensor(e.g. a camera or the like) is provided.

In other embodiments of the present invention a smart signage controllerfor an LED-based sign is provided. The controller is disposed within theLED-based sign, housed in a separate enclosure near the LED-based sign,or within the building the sign is attached to) and in electricalcommunication with a plurality of LEDs of the LED based sign. Thecontroller is configured to monitor a status of the LEDs and control theLEDs in real-time. The controller is also configured to transmit statusinformation to and receive instructions from a commissioningapplication, over a communication network (e.g., Internet, WiFi), formonitoring and controlling the LEDs of the LED-based sign. Aftercommissioning, the controller separately communicates over the internet,for example, to the cloud network to transmit data.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features ofvarious embodiments, which should be construed to be merely illustrativeof various potential applications of the disclosure. Other beneficialresults can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in adifferent manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosedembodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensiveunderstanding may be obtained by referring to the detailed descriptionof the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in addition to the scope defined by the claims.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating a cloud-based remote diagnosticssystem for signage applications that can be implemented in one or moreembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating an example of an LED-based signincluding a controller of the system shown in FIG. 1 that can beimplemented within one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the controller of the systemshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that can be implemented within one or moreembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of remotelycontrolling an LED-based sign that can be implemented within one or moreembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating an example of use of the system ofFIG. 1 that can be implemented within one or more embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating a detailed example of usage of thesystem of FIG. 1 that can be implemented within one or more embodimentsof the present invention.

The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodimentsand are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Given thefollowing enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of thepresent disclosure should become evident to a person of ordinary skillin the art. This detailed description uses numerical and letterdesignations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similardesignations in the drawings and description have been used to refer tolike or similar parts of embodiments of the invention.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. It must beunderstood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary ofvarious and alternative forms. As used herein, the word “exemplary” isused expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations,specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scaleand some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details ofparticular components.

In other instances, well-known components, apparatuses, materials, ormethods that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art havenot been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the presentdisclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art.

As noted above, the embodiments provide an ability to detect, identify,and prevent faults within and an entire signage system remotely. Morespecifically, failure can be determined prior to arrival, such that anyrequired replacement components can be purchased remotely, and upondiagnosis of the problem, and brought to the sign on the first trip. Ifthe data from the signage system exhibits signs of future failure,selective preventative maintenance can also be performed.

The embodiments of the present invention include a cloud-based remotediagnostics system, as shown and described below with reference to FIGS.1-3. The system includes a software-type commissioning application whichis configured to commission a plurality of smart signage controllerswithin LED-based signs.

The plurality of smart signage controllers are capable of obtainingreal-time (“live”) parameters from a signage system, and relaying suchparameters to a cloud based information system via wired and/or wirelesscommunication. The parameters to be transmitted may include one or moreof: status of LED signage driver; status of LED module in a sign;electrical parameters of an LED sign (e.g., present current, voltage,and/or power status); controller status. The parameters can also includelocation of a sign; elevation or height of a sign; and overall signstatus. The system therefore reduces the time and costs for replacing orrepairing LED-based signs within a signage system.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a signage system 100 includes a plurality ofLED-based signs 110, each having one or more corresponding LED signagedrivers 115. One or more controllers 120 provide real-time monitoringand controlling four LEDs 116 (as depicted in FIG. 2) in each LED-basedsign 110. A commissioning application (“app”) 130 commissions the one ormore controllers 120. An information system or database, which is housedremotely or on a cloud network or platform 140, stores informationreceived from and send commands to, the one or more controllers 120related to the LED-based signs 110. The signage system 100 also includesat least one sensor 150 (e.g. a camera or the like).

The LED-based signs 110 can be found in the same or remote locations,spaced apart from each other. For example, one LED-based sign 110 on thesystem 100 can be in one state and another LED-based sign 110 can belocated in a different state. That is, the LED-based signs 110 do nothave to be physically co-located.

The LED-based signs 110 typically include a plurality of LEDs 116, asdepicted in FIG. 2, and an associated driver 115 for driving theoperation of the LEDs in each LED-based sign 110. The LED driver 115 canbe designed to operate the LEDs 116 having different or same sets ofelectrical requirements, or any other suitable driver for the purposesset forth herein.

The commissioning application 130 initiates the monitoring andcontrolling of the LEDs 116 of the LED-based signs 110. Thecommissioning application 130 can be web-based or a browser-basedinterface accessible via a remote computer system e.g., a laptop, mobiledevice or personal computer (PC). Alternatively, according to otherembodiments, the commissioning application 130 can also be anapplication contained completely on the device used to perform thecommissioning process (e.g., an application running on a smart phone).

In accordance with the embodiments, the commissioning application 130can enable installers of the LED-based signs 110 to connect thecontroller 120 to a wireless data communications connection (e.g., localWiFi connection), as well as “push” parameter information, related tothe LED-based signs 110, to the controller 120. This information ispushed to the cloud-based information system on cloud network 140 or thecommissioning application 130 at the user device. Separately, thisinformation is also pushed by the commissioning application 130 to thecloud-based information system or cloud network 140.

By way of example, the commissioning application 130 can communicatewith the controller(s) 120 directly over a communication network (e.g.,Internet or WiFi) or via the information system on the cloud network140. Although only one controller 120 is shown in FIG. 1, the presentinvention is not so limited and can include any number of controllers120, as necessary. The number of controllers 120 corresponds to thenumber of LED-based signs 110.

A user can access the commissioning application 130 and send a signal tothe controller 120 of each LED-based sign 110, requesting parameterinformation corresponding to the LED-based sign 110. Alternatively, theuser can access the parameters from a user interface in the cloudnetwork 140. The parameters to be transmitted via the controller 120, atthe LED-based sign 110, can include one or more of: status of LEDsignage driver 115; status of LEDs 116 in an LED-based sign 110;electrical parameters of an LED-based sign 110 (e.g., present current,voltage, and/or power status); controller 120 status; location of theLED-based sign 110; elevation or height of the LED-based sign 110; andoverall LED-based sign 110 status.

In the embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 120 can bedisposed within the LED-based sign 110 and in electrical communicationwith a plurality of LEDs 116. The controller 120 can be configured tomonitor a status of the LEDs 116 and control the LEDs 116 in real-time.The controller 120 can also transmit status information to, and receiveinstructions from, the commissioning application 130 as depicted inFIG. 1. This communication can occur via a communication network (e.g.,WiFi) or via the cloud network 140 and provides for monitoring andcontrolling the LEDs 116 of the LED-based sign 110.

The controller 120 can monitor and control the above-mentionedparameters and transfer related parameter data to the cloud-basedinformation system on cloud network 140. The controller 120 can alsotransfer related parameter data directly to the commissioningapplication 130, via the cloud-based information system on cloud network140. Details regarding the controller 120 will be discussed below withreference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the controller of the systemshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that can be implemented within one or moreembodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, eachcontroller 120 can comprise one or more microcontrollers 122, and aninternal power supply interface 124 to be connected with the powersupply of the LED-based sign 110. Each controller 120 can also includean amplifier 126, an LED dimming module 127, an Ethernetmodule/interface 128, a WiFi module/interface 129, or monitoringcircuits (not shown). Each controller 120 can include one or morecommunications modules which may be implemented as, but not limited to,an Ethernet module/interface 128, WiFi module/interface 129.

The controller 120 main be connected to a plurality of sensors 150 asdepicted in FIG. 1. The sensors 150 can be disposed on the controller120, and/or external to the controller 120. The plurality of sensors 150can include e.g., lights sensors, vibration sensors, humidity sensors,or temperature sensors to obtain further parameter informationassociated with the LED-based sign 110.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 400 forremotely controlling the LED-based sign 110 within one or more of theembodiments. The method 400 begins at operation 410, where a pluralityof LED-based signs are provided, each having one or more correspondingLED signage drivers. The method 400 continues at operation 420, where acommissioning application at a user device, commissions one or morecontrollers for monitoring and controlling the LEDs in the LED-basedsign.

At operation 430, the one or more controllers perform real-timemonitoring and controlling of the LEDs in the LED-based sign by sensing,via a sensor in communication with the one or more controllers, statusinformation of the LEDs. From operation 430, the process continues tooperation 440 where the status information is transmitted to theinformation system or cloud database which is housed remotely or on thecloud network, and/or directly to the commissioning application at theuser device.

The system 100 can provide a user with diagnostics on the condition of asignage system. The system 100 can also identify one or more faults inthe signage that may occur throughout its lifecycle, an example of whichis depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating an example of use of the system 100of FIG. 1, implementable within the embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, atthe commissioning application 130, an installer can display andconfigure new and existing signage systems and create a digitalrepresentation of signage systems in the cloud. The cloud-basedinformation system on the cloud network 140, can monitor and diagnosethe signage systems.

The cloud-based information system on the cloud network 140 can alsotrack service of life of the LED drivers 115, display failures via amap, issue system and/or component failure alarms and other preemptivewarnings/alarm messages. For example, the system can issue warningsbased on historical failure data obtained via the controllers 120 at theLED-based signs 110.

The controllers 120 can detect anomalies, monitor the signage systemcomponents and monitor interactions with other components. Thecontrollers 120 can also receive controller configuration andreconfigure themselves and send the parameter information to thecloud-based information system and/or the cloud network. As such, thesystem 100 is able to perform diagnostics on the data obtained from thecontrollers 120, such as faults in the LED-based signs 110.

These faults can include, but are not limited to, one or more of LEDlight intensity, LED driver failure, LED module failure, electric shockhazard, potential fire, ice/snow build-up, flashing sign, extreme wind,or earthquake detection; or the like. Once diagnostics have beenperformed, a user of the system 100 may then be notified of a completestatus of the signage system. In the embodiments, such notifications maybe configurable, and may be in the form of text message, e-mail, webreport, or visual indicators, or the like.

As understood by persons of skill in the art, any relevant datacommunications can be performed by many suitable configurations andprotocols, wireless and/or wired. Wireless communication may compriseone or more of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, ZigBee, 6 lowpan; or the like.Wired communication may comprise one or more of Ethernet or FibreOptics, or the like.

Additional detailed examples of operations performed via the controller120, commissioning application 130, the cloud network 140 of the system100 are described below with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating a detailed example of usage of thesystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with the embodiments. As shown in FIG. 6,the controller 120 can further obtain driver configuration informationfrom the cloud network 140. The controller 120 can also authenticatewith the cloud and authenticate/accept the commissioning (e.g., phone)application connection. Additionally, it can act as a web client,monitor ports for data, and commission a physical reset button. Thecommissioning reset button resets the controller 120 to a factory statewhen pressed. The controller 120 can also include a configurationstorage.

Further, the commissioning application 130 can illustrate drivers 115 tobe changed, confirm controller configuration, and tell the informationsystem on the cloud network 140 to reset the controller 120. Thecommissioning application 130 can also authenticate with the cloudsystem or network 140, create/edit assets in the information system onthe cloud network 140, read controller information (e.g., barcode info),scan driver 115 barcodes, and send driver 115 configuration to thecontroller 120.

The cloud system or network 140 can create customer accounts, displaylocations and details of the LED-based signs 110 (i.e., assets), resetcontroller configuration, perform client creation and authentication,track service life of drivers and perform dimming of the LEDs 116 viathe drivers 115. The controller 120 dims the LEDs 116 based on thedimming schedule. The dimming schedule may be pre-configured on thedevice or it may be received from the cloud network 140 or commissioningapplication 130.

In accordance with the embodiments, the present invention can permit auser to commission, monitor, control, and maintain signage applications.Generally, an ability to diagnose and detect live data would allow usersto identify faults at an appropriate time, in order to reduce timeneeded to repair, as well as potentially reduce system down-time. Havingsuch an ability may provide flexibility to schedule preventativemaintenance. Furthermore, the disclosed system may provide its user withan ability to identify faults down to the individual component; forexample, a fault in an individual LED signage driver in a given sign.

One possible technical advantage includes the ability to detect,identify, and prevent faults within an entire signage system, from alocation which is remote from the signs. The present disclosure mayallow a failure to be determined prior to arrival of a technician, suchthat the required replacement components can be purchased immediatelyand brought to the site of failure on the first trip of the technician.If the data from the signage system shows signs of future failure,selective preventative maintenance is also now an option.

This written description uses examples to disclose the inventionincluding the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orapparatuses and performing any incorporated methods. The patentablescope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include otherexamples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote diagnostic system for signageapplications, the system comprising: one or more light emittingdiode-based signs comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, eachhaving one or more corresponding light emitting diode signage drivers;one or more controllers configured to perform real-time monitoring andcontrolling the light emitting diodes in the light emitting diode-basedsigns; a commissioning application configured to commission the one ormore controllers; an information system in a cloud network, for storinginformation received from the one or more controllers and thecommissioning application, related to the one or more light emittingdiode-based signs; and one or more sensors in communication with the oneor more controllers to sense parameter information of the one or morelight emitting diode-based signs.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thelight emitting diode-based signs are in different physical locations. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the commissioning application isweb-based.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the commissioningapplication is browser-based interface accessible via a remote computersystem.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the commissioning applicationis an application running natively on the remote computer system.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein a user accesses the commissioning applicationand the commissioning application transmits a signal to the one or morecontrollers requesting the parameter information corresponding to theone or more light emitting diode-based signs.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein a user accesses the cloud network to view details and parameterinformation received from the one or more controllers in the LED-basedsigns, wherein the information is pushed to the information system onthe cloud network from the one or more controllers and the commissioningapplication.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the parameter informationcomprises one or more of status of LED signage driver, status of thelight emitting diodes, electrical parameters of an light emittingdiode-based signs, status of the one or more controllers, location ofthe one or more light emitting diode-based signs, elevation or height ofthe one or more light emitting diode-based signs, and overalloperational status of the one or more light emitting diode-based sign.9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers aredisposed within the one or more light emitting diode-based signs and inelectrical communication with the plurality of light emitting diodes,and configured to: (i) monitor a status of the light emitting diodes andcontrol the light emitting diodes in real-time, and (ii) transmit statusinformation to and receive instructions from the commissioningapplication over the cloud network.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereineach controller of the one or more controllers comprises: one or moremicrocontrollers; an internal power supply interface to be connectedwith the power supply of the one or more light emitting diode-basedsigns; and at least one communication network.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein the at least one communication network comprises at leastone of an ethernet interface and a wireless network interface.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed withineach one or more controllers and connected thereto.
 13. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the one or more sensors are external to each one ormore controllers and connected thereto.
 14. The system of claim 10,wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more of lights sensors,vibration sensors, humidity sensors, or temperature sensors to obtainfurther parameter information associated with the light emittingdiode-based signs.
 15. A controller for a light emitting diode sign, thecontroller being disposed within or adjacent to the light emittingdiode-based sign and in electrical communication with a plurality oflight emitting diodes thereof, and configured to: (i) monitor a statusof the light emitting diodes and control the light emitting diodes inreal-time, and (ii) transmit status information to and receiveinstructions from a commissioning application, over a cloud network, formonitoring and controlling the light emitting diodes of the lightemitting diode-based sign.
 16. The controller of claim 15, wherein auser accesses the commissioning application and the commissioningapplication transmits a signal to the controller requesting theparameter information corresponding to the light emitting diode-basedsign.
 17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the parameter informationcomprises one or more of status of LED signage driver, status of thelight emitting diodes, electrical parameters of an light emittingdiode-based signs, status of the one or more controllers, location ofthe one or more light emitting diode-based signs, elevation or height ofthe one or more light emitting diode-based signs, and overalloperational status of the one or more light emitting diode-based sign.18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the controller comprises: one ormore microcontrollers; an internal power supply interface to beconnected with the power supply of the one or more light emittingdiode-based signs; and at least one communication interface.
 19. Thecontroller of claim 18, wherein the controller further comprises asensor sensing the parameter information of the light emittingdiode-based sign.
 20. The controller of claim 19, wherein the controllerinterfaces with a sensor sensing the parameter information wherein thesensor is external to the controller and connected thereto.
 21. A methodfor remotely controlling a light emitting diode-based sign over a cloudnetwork, the method comprising: providing a one or more light emittingdiode-based signs, each having one or more corresponding light emittingdiode signage drivers; commissioning, via a commissioning application,one or more controllers for monitoring and controlling the lightemitting diodes in the light emitting diode-based signs; performing, viathe one or more controllers, real-time monitoring and controlling of thelight emitting diode-based signs; sensing, via one or more sensors incommunication with the one or more controllers, status information ofthe light emitting diodes, and transmitting the status information to aninformation system or database which is housed remotely or on a cloudnetwork for storing the information from the one or more controllers andto the commissioning application.